Game projectiles



Dec. 17, 1968 a. P. RANDALL 3,416,800

GAME PROJECTILES Filed Oct. 4, 1966 FIG.4.

Brian F! Randall ATTORNEY INVENTOR United States Patent 3,416,800 GAMEPROJECTILES Brian P. Randall, P.0. Box 8190, Asheville, N.C. 28804 FiledOct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,175 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-106) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An aerodynamic game projectile of a resilient porus material.The projectile is so shaped as to have a concave lower surface having acircular periphery and an upper con-vex surface of revolution formed bythe rotation of a curved line having one end disposed at the peripheryof the concave lower surface, and the other end located at a point onthe line representing an axis normal to the concave surface at itscenter. The diameter of the circular periphery is approximately themaximum diameter of the surface of revolution. In one embodiment theline is the arc of a circle having an extent of no more than 90.

This invention relates to game projectiles, and is in the nature of animprovement on or further development of the projectile shown in myprior Patent No. 3,099,450, dated July 30, 1963.

In said patent there is disclosed a game projectile for serial flight inthe shape of a half ball or hemispherical body having a continuoussmooth curved surface and a continuous smooth flat surface, and intendedto be thrown through the air with the curved surface uppermost, and itslower flat surface generally parallel with the ground. When thrown asdescribed, the projectile is given a spinning motion, producing anaerodynamic action which causes it to sail or glide through the air,and, at the end of the flight, to break or turn to one side.

I have now discovered that, by making the lower surface of theprojectile concave, instead of flat, it has a greater area, andgenerates a more extreme aerodynamic action.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my improved projectile;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views, partly in side elevation and partlyin transverse section showing projectiles of slightly different shapes;and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a somewhat modified form of projectile.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved projectile, as in myprior patent, consists of a solid body in the general shape of a halfball, 1. The interior of the body is formed of resilient, porousmaterial 3, such as sponge rubber, and this is preferably covered with acontinuous, non-porous skin 4.

The lower face of the projectile is formed by a concave surface 2.

In FIG. 2, the meeting edges of the upper spherical surface and lowerconcave surface are shown as rounded, as at a.

In FIG. 3, the edges of these surfaces are shown as united by a narrow,peripheral beveled surface b.

In FIG. 4, the respective edges are shown as meeting along a relativelysharp circular ridge 0.

In FIG. 5, I have illustrated a projectile having an upper curvedsurface 1', which, instead of being spherical, as in the other figures,is somewhat flattened and ellip 3,4 1 6,800 Patented Dec. 1 7, 1 968"Ice soidal. This form, of course, has the same concave lower surface asindicated at 2 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

In all of the forms shown, it will be seen that the projectile has aconcentric concave lower surface, bounded by a circle, and a curved,convex upper surface which may be defined as a surface of revolution. Inthe forms of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, this surface of revolution is generatedby revolving a circular are about an axis disposed centrally of andperpendicular to the center of the concave surface. The circular arc maybe less but never greater than In FIG. 5, the curved surface isgenerated by revolving a portion of an ellipse about its minor axisperpendicular to said concave surface.

To make a straight pitch, the projectile is held, as illustrated in saidpatent, with its lower concave surface substantially parallel with theground. In this case, the concave surface gives more stability to theprojectile, especially toward the end of its flight.

If it is desired to pitch a curve, the projectile, when released fromthe hand is tilted more or less to the right or left, with the plane ofits lower surface disposed at an angle to the ground. In this case, theconcave surface causes the projectile to turn more sharply to the rightor left than if the surface were flat, as in said patent.

As stated in said patent, the projectile may conveniently be from twoand a half to three inches in diameter, and on this bases, the depth ofthe concavity of the lower surface may be anywhere betweenone-sixty-fourth of an inch and one inch.

What I claim is:

1. An aerodynamic game projectile for stable flight in projectionthrough the atmosphere above the surface of the ground and adapted foruse in throwing and batting games; said projectile comprising a solidbody of resilient porous material having at one side a concentricconcave surface bounded by a circle, and at the other side a continuoussmooth convex, curved surface, said curved surface being a surface ofrevolution formed by revolving about an axis disposed centrally of andperpendicular to the center of said concave surface, a curved lineterminating at said axis and at said circle; the diameter of said circlebeing approximately the maximum diameter of said surface of revolution;said projectile being of a size to be readily gripped by one hand forthrowing, with the first finger and thumb of the throwing hand partiallyencircling the same, whereby, when thrown, if said concave surface issubstantially parallel with the ground, the projectile tends to spin andglide, while tending to maintain its original attitude relative to theground, but if said concave surface is disposed at an'angle to theground when released from the hand, the projectile will tend to follow acurved line of flight, turning to the right or left.

2. A projectile in accordance with claim 1 in which the curved linegenerating the surface of revolution is an arc of a circle no greaterthan 90.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1963 Randall 273-106 8/1965Palovik 273-106 US. Cl. X.R. 27326, 5 8

